Comments on: The “Obama Doctrine:” A blessing or a curse for the conflict? http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/ Independent commentary and news from Israel & Palestine Tue, 21 May 2013 11:15:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: AYLA http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28447 AYLA Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:49:45 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28447 thanks for this piece, Ami. Want to see the cynic in me emerge? Talk to me about Obama and Israel. The man shifted gears for one reason and one reason only: Jewish American money / reelection. And I think Israel is beholden regardless if they're still on the payroll, no? I actually can't help wondering if the U.S. is in bed with Netanyahu on the possible Iran attack, just because it's hard for me to believe that Israel would go truly unilateral on something that huge. So much for your optimistic reader :). Enjoyed this piece though. Here's something true that correlates with my wide-eyed, optimistic image: I still believe in this President's ethical core, empathy, desire to be everyone's president (perhaps his downfall), and critical mind. Watching what has happened to him convinces me that our system is deeply broken. And per Ben Israel's comment, I DO hope he can find more freedom in a second term, being less naive, and no longer needing votes. But he'll still be working with a congress that would rather see him fail than do anything productive. Maybe all this is happening so the people will take back the night (ie Occupy Wallstreet). Which is ironic, because these are the people Obama asked for upon election. thanks for this piece, Ami. Want to see the cynic in me emerge? Talk to me about Obama and Israel. The man shifted gears for one reason and one reason only: Jewish American money / reelection. And I think Israel is beholden regardless if they’re still on the payroll, no? I actually can’t help wondering if the U.S. is in bed with Netanyahu on the possible Iran attack, just because it’s hard for me to believe that Israel would go truly unilateral on something that huge. So much for your optimistic reader :) . Enjoyed this piece though. Here’s something true that correlates with my wide-eyed, optimistic image: I still believe in this President’s ethical core, empathy, desire to be everyone’s president (perhaps his downfall), and critical mind. Watching what has happened to him convinces me that our system is deeply broken. And per Ben Israel’s comment, I DO hope he can find more freedom in a second term, being less naive, and no longer needing votes. But he’ll still be working with a congress that would rather see him fail than do anything productive. Maybe all this is happening so the people will take back the night (ie Occupy Wallstreet). Which is ironic, because these are the people Obama asked for upon election.

]]> By: Anthony http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28351 Anthony Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:50:17 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28351 The problem with Israel "leading from behind" is that it doesn't really step back, it keeps supporting Israel diplomatically and financially. If it were to cut off aid to both Israel and Palestine until they make peace and abstain on UN votes then this would really be a new approach and worth assessing. Until then, plus ca change... The problem with Israel “leading from behind” is that it doesn’t really step back, it keeps supporting Israel diplomatically and financially.

If it were to cut off aid to both Israel and Palestine until they make peace and abstain on UN votes then this would really be a new approach and worth assessing. Until then, plus ca change…

]]> By: Ami Kaufman http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28334 Ami Kaufman Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:18 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28334 @dayag - i agree with you, and have written about this issue many times. even in this post. @dayag – i agree with you, and have written about this issue many times. even in this post.

]]> By: Dayag http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28329 Dayag Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:29:51 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28329 Ami, sincere apologies for the misspelling of your name. It was non-intentional. Ami, sincere apologies for the misspelling of your name. It was non-intentional.

]]> By: Dayag http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28328 Dayag Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:28:45 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28328 Amy, It seems to me you want someone to force Israel to bend to Palestinian demands. This is not something Germany, nor any country could do, given continued U.S. diplomatic support for Israel at the U.N.. I do not think you are going to see "tough love" from the U.S. any soon. Most especially before November 2012 given the U.S. Presidential election. Amy,
It seems to me you want someone to force Israel to bend to Palestinian demands. This is not something Germany, nor any country could do, given continued U.S. diplomatic support for Israel at the U.N..

I do not think you are going to see “tough love” from the U.S. any soon. Most especially before November 2012 given the U.S. Presidential election.

]]> By: Ami Kaufman http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28326 Ami Kaufman Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:09:28 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28326 @dayag - then I most probably question your definition of "neutral" :) @dayag – then I most probably question your definition of “neutral” :)

]]> By: aristeides http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28315 aristeides Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:39:03 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28315 There are times when I gotta agree with Ben Israel. There are times when I gotta agree with Ben Israel.

]]> By: Dayag http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28303 Dayag Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:40:37 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28303 A "neutral negotiator" means "tough love" for Israel? I question your definition of the word neutral. A “neutral negotiator” means “tough love” for Israel? I question your definition of the word neutral.

]]> By: Ben Israel http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28259 Ben Israel Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:35:11 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28259 I recall the giddiness of "progressive" bloggers like Richard Silverstine, MJ Rosenberg and Prof. Dr. Bernard Avishai when Obama was elected. They assured us the Obama would finally be the one to get a total freeze on the settlements and that, being as popular as he was, he would be in a position to impose a peace agreement on the order of what President Eisenhower did in 1957 where he forced Israel out of the Sinai. I told each one of them that, in the end, every President ends up carrying out the same policy which is trying to get Israel to withdraw, trying to get the Palestinians to agree to real peace with Israel, and then, each President in turn, realizing that there is possibility of a peace agreement, simply trying to manage the conflict. Thus, Obama is now the lastest to have gone through the learning curve. It seems "progressive" political thinking is based largely on wishful thinking. They will now "wait until his second term, THEN he will be strong enough...not having to worry about reelection (just like Reagan and Bush!)". I recall the giddiness of “progressive” bloggers like Richard Silverstine, MJ Rosenberg and Prof. Dr. Bernard Avishai when Obama was elected. They assured us the Obama would finally be the one to get a total freeze on the settlements and that, being as popular as he was, he would be in a position to impose a peace agreement on the order of what President Eisenhower did in 1957 where he forced Israel out of the Sinai. I told each one of them that, in the end, every President ends up carrying out the same policy which is trying to get Israel to withdraw, trying to get the Palestinians to agree to real peace with Israel, and then, each President in turn, realizing that there is possibility of a peace agreement, simply trying to manage the conflict. Thus, Obama is now the lastest to have gone through the learning curve. It seems “progressive” political thinking is based largely on wishful thinking. They will now “wait until his second term, THEN he will be strong enough…not having to worry about reelection (just like Reagan and Bush!)”.

]]> By: Danny http://972mag.com/the-%e2%80%9cobama-doctrine%e2%80%9d-a-blessing-or-a-curse-for-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/26509/comment-page-1/#comment-28253 Danny Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:18:57 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=26509#comment-28253 An excellent analysis of the state of affairs and the affairs of state. Well thought out and and presented. An excellent analysis of the state of affairs and the affairs of state. Well thought out and and presented.

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